Leather



C. RUHE.

MACHINE FOR SPONGI'NG LEATHER.

APPLICATloN FILED AuG.|O,1sr5.

1 193 927. PatentedAug.8,1916. 77 s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

JWIN/whoa C. RUHE.

MACHINE FOR SPUNGING LEATHER.

APPLlcATxoN man AuG.10. |915.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COCCO III C. RUHE.

MACHINE FOR SPONGING LEATHER. APPucATloN FILED AuG.10,`1915.

1,1 93,927. Patented Aug. 8,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. s@ /fgff/ y2 f 7d W (77 'A 555% gf gi i/Z2 42 'y fr J0 CARLETON BUI-IE, 0F CLEAN, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR SPONGING LEATHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Parenteel Aug. 8,19ie.

Application filed August 10, 1915. Serial No. 44,745.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that 1, CAnLnToN RUHE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olean, in the county of Gattaraugus and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Sponging Leather, of which the following is a specification. l

My invention relates to a machine for sponging leather, such as sole leather, in a manner which is ordinarily practised by hand.

An important object of the invention is to provide a machine ofthe above mentioned character, which will operate in a highly satisfactory and expeditious manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide amachine of the above mentioned character, embodying means for properly applying solution or solutions to the stock or leather.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong, and durable. Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view through a machine embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, half thereof being shown in transverse vertical section, Fig. 3 is a plan view ofa machine, Fig. 4f is a detail section through a vertically adjustable supporting element, associated elements being shown in elevation, Fig. 5 is a detail section through one of the brushes, Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an adjustable bearing, Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line S-S of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail section through an endless conveyer showing a pointed prong carried thereby.

In the drawings, wherein for the purposeof illustration is shown a preferred embodiment ofmy invention, the numeral 10 designates a supporting structure or frame, as a whole, comprising `vertical posts 11 having their lower ends rigidly connected by longitudinal and transverse horizontal beams 12 and 13. The upper ends of these posts are rigidly connected by horizontal longitudinal and transverse beams 14 and 15, as shown. Freferably arranged eXteriorly of the posts 11, at theirupper ends are horizontal longitudinal frame beams 16,' as shown. Attached to corresponding ends of these frame beams 16 is a table top 17, having a preferably conveX surface, the inner portion of which is substantially horizontal. The numeral 18 designates a longitudinally curved or concave basin, secured to the opposite end of the frame beams 16, and provided with drain opening or openings 19, disposed adjacent an. upstanding liange 20, as shown. Disposed between the table top 17 and the basin 13 are liquid holding receptacles or basins 21 and 22, suitably attached to the frame beams 16. These liquid holding receptacles or basins have no direct means of communication. The liquid is fed into these receptacles through inlet conduits 23, arranged near their upper ends. These receptacles are also provided near their lower ends with outlet conduits 24, having valves 25.

Means are provided toheat the liquids within the receptacles 21 and 22, preferably comprising electrical heating coils 26, arranged within casings 27, preferably disposed in the bottom of these receptacles.

The numeral 28 designates a source of current, having a wire 29 connected with one pole thereof. This wire is connected with one end of one coil 26 and a wire 30 is connected with the wire 29 and with one end of theV other coil. The opposite ends of the coils are connected with wires 31, having connection with the opposite pole of the source of current.

Journaled through suitable bearings 32 carried by the frame beams 16 are transverse rotatable shafts 33 and 34, upon which are rigidly mounted cylindrical brushes 35 and 36, for rotation therewith.k These brushes are disposed within the receptacles or basins 21 and 22, as shown. Each rotatable brush preferably comprises a plurality of sections 37 (see Fig. 5), apertured to receive the shaft and clamped thereto by means of nuts 38 or the like, with metallic heads 39, disposed between the nuts and the end members 37. Each section 37 carries upon its periphery a ring 37 of compressible material, such as felt, which is covered with sheep Yskin 40 having the natural wool.

While 1 have found that brushes constructed in this manner are more satisfactory, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to this precise type of brush.

The receptacles 20 and 21 are slightly spaced providinga verticalpassage 41, receiving vertically'movable supporting elements or tubes 42, reciprocatingwithin suitable guides 43, rigidly attached to the frame work of the machine. At their upper ends,y these tubes 42 have cross heads 44 rigidly attached thereto. Disposed between the end cross heads 44 are intermediate supportmembers 45, apertured to receive rods 46, to which they are rigidly secured. The rods 46 also extend through apertures in the cross heads 44. The cross heads 44 are apertured for receiving a rotatable shaft 47, carrying a supporting roll 48, arranged therebetween and between the inner ends of the support-members 45. The function of these support-members and associated elements is to provide an adjustable support for the stock or leather as it passes from one brush to the other.

Each tube 42 is provided atY its lower end with a flange 49, engaged by a compressible coil spring 50, which serves to move the tube upwardly. Extending longitudinally within the tube 42 and movable longitudinally with relation thereto is a rod 51, provided with a head 52 at its upper end, operating within an enlarged opening 53. The lower portion of the rod 51 is screw-threaded, as shown at 54, to operate in a screw-threaded opening formed in a bracket 55, attached to the beams 14. Each rod 51 isprovided at its lower end with a hand wheel 56, by means of which it may be turned. 1t is obvious that the opening 53 is sufliciently vertically longer than the head 52, to permit of the slight downward movement of the tubes 42 with relation to the rod 51, the upward movement of this tube being positively limited by the rod 51 and its head 52, which are adjustable to vary the extent of upward movement.

Disposed upon the upper edges of the frame beams 16 are sides 57, attached thereto by straps 58 and bolts 59, (see Fig. 8) whereby these sides are normally rigidly held in place but may be removed when desired. These sides are prefer-ably provided near their upper edges with inwardlyex-` tending flanges 60, having inner grooves 61, receiving theedges of a curved cover 62,

removably held in place by suitable means.`

Disposing upon the inner faces of the sides 57 are vertically movable bearings 64 (see Figs. 7 and 8), having tongues 65, at their edges to operate within grooves formed Ain vertical guides 66, rigidly attached to these sides. YThe cross heads 67 also operate within the guides 66 above the bearings 64 and are apertured for receiving pins 68, attached Yto the bearings 64. Coil springs 69 `sur- It is thus apparent,

that the spring means will serve to move the bearings -64 downwardly and such spring means may have its tension regulated by the adjusting bolts 70. r r

Journaled through the bearings 64 are transverse shafts 71, having rolls 72 rigidly secured thereto and arranged between the ends 57 above and adjacent the longitudinal axes of the rolls 35 and 36, as shown.

These rolls 72 carry an Aendless conveyer or belt 73 (see Fig. 9) having outwardly extending prongs or pointed elements 74, as shown.

The numeral 75 designates a tension roll, carried by a shaft 76, journaled through vertically adjustable bearings 77. AThese bearings are identical with the bearings 64 and the spring means for forcing them downwardly are identical with those shown and described in connection with the bearings 64 and no further description is deemed necessary.

Rigidly connected with one end of the shaft 33 is a pulley 78, receiving power from vvany' suitable means. This pulley rotates the shaft 33. The shaft 33 carries a sprocket wheel 79, engaged by a sprocket chain 80, engaging a sprocket wheel 81,` rigidly mounted upon the shaft The" shaft 33 is rotated counter-clockwise, and rotates the shaft 34'in the same direction andV tion, to the brushes but preferably atthev same speed, whereby its lower portion ro-vv tates in the same direction, with the upper portion of said brushes.

lThe operation of the machine is as follows: rlhe stock or leather is placed upon they table top 17, and fed between the brush 36 and the endless conveyer 72, which are driven in the direction of the arrows.V TheV grain side of the leather is arranged lowermost to contact withthe brushes while the. liesh side thereof is engaged by the endless" conveyer 73 and its pointed prongs. The receptacle or basin` 22 is preferably filled with plain water which is first applied to the grain side of the leather by the brush 36, which rotates in the water. The leather is then carried across the support-members 45' into Contact with the brush 36, rotating in the direction of the arrow. This brush revolves in ay compound solution, the basis of which is preferably soap, for applying this compound solution to the grain side of the leather. The solution or solutions are heated or maintained at the proper temperature by the coils 26, as is obvious. 'Ihe rolls 72 being carried by vertically movable springv pressed bearings, are capable of partaking of slight restricted vertical movements with respect to the brushes, so that the machine can accommodate stock or leather of different thicknesses. The belt 83 is ordinarily made a little slack, so that it will not interfere with the vertical adjustment of the roll 72.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

l. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, a plurality of liquid holding receptacles mounted upon the supporting structure, substantially horizontal rotatable brushes operating within the liquid holding receptacles to receive a liquid therefrom in a continuous manner, and a substantially horizontal endless conveyer arranged near and above the rotatable brushes to contact with the stock traveling thereon, and completely spanning the space between the brushes and overlapping them for a substantial distance.

2. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, a plurality of rotatable brushes connected therewith and adapted to have the stock or leather travel above and contact therewith, means for holding a liquid or liquids in contact with the brushes, and an endless conveyer arranged above the brushes and having prongs to engage the upper side of the stock or leather.

3. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, a plurality of rotatable brushes connected therewith, a corresponding number of receptacles adapted to hold liquids and to receive the brushes, means to heat the receptacles, and a guide element arranged above the brushes to hold the stock or leather in proper contact with the brushes.

l. In a machine of the character described, a supporting structure, liquid holding receptacles mounted thereon, a pair of substantially horizontal brushes rotatably mounted within the receptacles, means to drive the brushes, a pair of upper rolls disposed above and near the brushes, vertically movable spring pressed bearings for the upper rolls to move them downwardly, an endless conveyer surrounding the upper rolls, and means to drive the upper rolls.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARLETON RUHE. l

Witnesses C. L. PARKER, JAMES L. CRAWFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

